Chapter
XX.—Persecution of the Egyptian Monks, and of the
Disciples of St. Antony. They were enclosed in a Certain Island on
Account of their Orthodoxy; the Miracles which they Wrought.

Lucius went with the general of
the soldiers in Egypt, against the monks in the desert;14631463 Ruf. ii. 3, 4; Soc. iv. 22, 24; Theodoret, H.
E. iv. 21, 22; Chronicon prævium to the Vestal letters,
from a.d. 367 to 373, and Chronicon
acephalum, 15–19; Greg. Naz. Or. xxv. 11–14,
xxxiv. 3; Cod. Theod. xvi. 1, 2; Pœmata, 12, de
seipso et de episcopis.
for he imagined that if he could overcome their opposition by
interrupting the tranquillity which 358they loved, he would meet with fewer obstacles
in drawing over to his party the Christians who inhabited the cities.
The monasteries of this country were governed by several individuals of
eminent sanctity, who were strenuously opposed to the heresy of Arius.
The people, who were neither willing nor competent to enter upon the
investigation of doctrinal questions, received their opinions from
them, and thought with them; for they were persuaded that men whose
virtue was manifested by their deeds were in possession of truth. We
have heard that the leaders of these Egyptian ascetics were two men of
the name of Macarius, of whom mention has already been made,14641464 In iii. 14; Pallad. H. L. xix., xx.
Pambo and Heraclides, and other disciples of Antony.

On reflecting that the Arians could never succeed in
establishing an ascendency over the Catholic Church, unless the monks
could be drawn over to their party, Lucius determined to have recourse
to force to compel the monks to side with him, since he was unable to
persuade them. But here again his scheme failed; for the monks were
prepared to subject their necks to the sword rather than to swerve from
the Nicene doctrines. It is related that, at the very time that the
soldiers were about to attack them, a man whose limbs were withered and
who was unable to stand on his feet was carried to them; and that when
they had anointed him with oil, and commanded him in the name of
Christ, whom Lucius persecuted, to arise and go to his house, he
suddenly became whole. This miraculous cure openly manifested the
necessity of adopting the sentiments of those to whom God himself had
testified as possessing the truth, while Lucius was condemned, in that
God heard their prayers and had healed the sick.

But the plotters against the monks were not led to
repentance by this miracle; on the contrary, they arrested these holy
men by night, and conveyed them to an island of Egypt, concealed in the
swamps. The inhabitants of this island had never heard of the Christian
faith, and were devoted to the service of demons: the island contained
a temple of great antiquity which was held in great reverence. It is
said that when the monks landed on the island, the daughter of the
priest, who was possessed of a devil, went to them. The girl ran
screaming towards them; and the people of the island, astonished at her
sudden and strange conduct, followed. When she drew near the ship in
which were the holy messengers, she flung herself pleadingly upon the
ground, and exclaimed supplicatingly in a loud voice, “Wherefore
are you come to us, O servants of the great God? for we have long dwelt
in this island as our residence; we have troubled no one. Unknown to
men, we have concealed ourselves here, and are everywhere surrounded by
these marshes. If, however, it please you, accept our possessions, and
fix your abode here; we will quit the island.”

Such were her utterances. Macarius and his companions
rebuked the demon, and the girl became sane. Her father and all her
house, with the inhabitants of the island, immediately embraced
Christianity, and after demolishing their temple, they transformed it
into a church. On these occurrences being reported at Alexandria,
Lucius was overcome with immoderate grief; and, fearing lest he should
incur the hatred of his own partisans, and be accused of warring
against God, and not against man, he sent secret orders for Macarius
and his companions to be re-conveyed to their own dwellings in the
wilderness. Thus did Lucius occasion troubles and commotions in
Egypt.

About the same period, Didymus the philosopher and
several other illustrious men acquired great renown. Struck by their
virtue, and by that of the monks, the people followed their doctrines
and opposed those of the partisans of Lucius.

The Arians, though not so strong in point of numbers as
the other party, grievously persecuted the church of Egypt.